Category: General

2025 Motely Picnic

KL7JFT

ANNUAL MOTLEY PICNIC / WEEKEND CAMPOUT

JULY 31 - AUGUST 3, 2025

It will be held at the TOLSONA WILDERNESS CAMPGROUND. They are
located at Mile 173 Glenn Highway. Their information website is https://

tolsonacampground.com. There is a campground map tab on their web-
site to determine location numbers. Campground Reservations will be

available after March 1, 2025. Their booking website is found at https://
www.campspot.com/book/tolsona-campground. If you have any questions or need help, they can be
reached by email at Camp@tolsonacampground.com or text at 866-739-5628. Let them know you are part of

the Motley Group to get a discounted rate, if you can camp with us. RESERVATIONS MADE AT THE CONCLU-
SION OF LAST YEAR’S PICNIC ARE VALID. THERE ARE 20 SPOTS STILL HELD IN RESERVE FOR OUR GROUP AT

THIS TIME.
You can bring an RV, pickup and camper, tent, or rent a yurt or cabin. The campground has different themes
each weekend and according the website schedule, the theme during our weekend will be pirates/mermaids
so stay alert. Tubing on the river/creek will be available. Generators and ATVs are strictly prohibited to keep
down the noise and dust. Quiet hours are from 10pm to 7am. The campground provides electric and water
hookups at each camping spot.
All Amateur Radio operators / families are welcome to attend and join in the fun. There will be souvenirs,
door prizes, raffles, swap and shop, a mini craft fair, and group meals to name a few. License testing will be
available, if there is interest. There will be two low-power FM Broadcast stations with campground coverage.
Be sure to bring your handy-talkie and listen on 146.520 for announcements or possible changes in program.

WATCH FOR MORE INFORMATION IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER. The planning committee is working on the dai-
ly schedule with various activities and locations. Accurate daily schedules will be provided once completed.

Camping fee is $35 per night for RV sites, which includes water and electricity.  Showers and  laundry available in campground.  This is a discounted rate for Motley Group picnic attendees.

 

If you have not reserved a site, do so NOW.  "Tell them you are with the Motley Group."

Larry, AL7LW - Manager, Alaska Motley Group

http://www.tolsonacampground.com

 

MARA 2024 HAMFEST (COMPLETED)

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Our date is set for 7 Sept. Setup time is 0900 open from 1000-1600. The location will be the Big Lake Lions Club, at 2942 Lions Cir, Big Lake. Scott/KL7SLM is working on our door prize request letter to give to the vendors and businesses to request door prizes and will have it out soon. Remember they are tax free.  Check with the Treasurer for Tax Receipts to give to the vendors.

(click on map)

We invited the ARRL Northwest Director who has accepted. Mark/KB7HDX gave us assistance getting the Hamfest Registered.  ARRL still have some IT problems. He will be bringing a lot of new ARRL and Ham radio info with him and wants to get our opinions on various items. We are currently looking for presentations to put on the schedule. Coordinate with Ken/KL2HF to get on the schedule.

Entry is $5.00 at the gate and 1 door prize tickets, additional door prize tickets will be a $1.00 max of 10, Tables are $10.00 reserve them thru John/KL1XM. The Barbee will be $5.00 ea.

We need volunteers to help on various tasks for the hamfest.   Please contact Shelia/KL3SOR.  We will need VEs to conduct testing at 1300-1400, will need folks at the gate, and the MARA Country Store, setup and tear down crews.  Please turn door prizes into prior to the Hamfest and any programs you would like to put on during the the Hamfest to Ken/KL7HF.

MARA is providing the main barbeque, if you could bring a side dishes it would be appreciated.

Pay your Membership Dues On Line

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If you haven't paid your 2020 membership dues, please get with John/KL1XM.  Our dues is one of our main incomes to maintain the club equipment and activities.  We are also a 501c3 non-profit club so it is all tax deductible. The web site has an application form for you to fill out under Forms and you can go to the Donate tab and pay by PayPal or Credit Card, if you like.  For any other club donations we will provide you a Tax Receipt.  Also with all the benefits available thru ARRL, you may be interested in joining it also.  You have the choice of 2 magazines now, one for new hams, with your ARRL membership, you also can get good equipment insurance, pod casts on various ham subjects, new equipment evaluations, construction projects, contest, and what ARRL is doing on our behalf with new legislation.

Another item of interest is that we are allowed to use our current meeting venue by donating to the food bank, non-perishable food or paper products.  This helps out our Food Bank for the community.   And thank you for your donation.

POTA, What is this?

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Well POTA is Parks On The Air.  Do you want have some fun, well this is it and it good practice for operating away from your home station. A lot of Alaskans like to get into the outdoors, fishing, hunting, hiking, ATVing, boating, or just plain camping.  Now it's possible you just want to get away from the hussle and bussle from the city and others for peace and quite.  But how would you like to help your state to improve getting folks interested to visit and help our small businesses.   Ham operators are always interested in talking up their station, home, and interest you have.  Well go to a park, any type and setup your portable station and call CQ CQ POTA, Denali National Park. This winter we held Winter Field Day at Finger Lake and had a blast.  Below is a link to a video that tells you all about it.  Enjoy.      POTA

SOTA-POTA Saturday (PENDING)

KL7JFT

Hello group,

Don't forget that this Saturday Alaska VHF+ is doing another Parks on the Air activation, and this time it will also be a Summits on the Air attempt at the same time.

Weather permitting, I will be hiking up a peak called The Hideout, just north of Skilak Lake. The plan is to be on the air for the 2 M SSB net at 0930 and make a few contacts there. I will have a good antenna but will be running QRP, so keep an ear out for a weak signal in the background.

If you can't hear me on VHF then keep an ear on 20 M FT8 around 1030. I'll be switching to that band and mode to make contacts outside of Alaska, but locals should be able to pick me up too.

For Summits on the Air this peak is "KLA/KM-456". It is within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and counts as K-0149 for that program.

Brandon Clark, KL7BSC

https://brandonclarklabs.com/